We walk on the beach for a long time, just talking.
She tells me that a boy in her class is starting to act interested in her.
"Ooh! Is he cute?"
She laughs, and pushes me playfully.
"Don't say that, it sounds wierd coming from you...he's okay looking I guess."
I grin, and poke her shoulder.
"Well, do you like him?"
She gets a weird little look in her eyes, and an embarrassed smile hovers on her lips.
"I don't know...I've never really thought about it before. I am only fourteen you know."
I shrug.
"Yeah I know, but if you like each other, maybe you should hang out with him."
She shrugs again,
"I don't know, maybe I will...you should get a girlfriend Finn!"
I wrinkle my nose, trying not to think about what I will have to do in the capitol.
"I might sometime. What's his name?"
She hesitates a minute before answering.
"Irvin Glendower. He's in school with me."
I nod,
"So he's the same age as you?"
She nods, and we walk in silence for a minute.
"Why have you never had a girlfriend Finn?"
I think about this for a while, why haven't I ever had a girlfriend? I'm old enough, and I'm sure I would have an endless list of possibilities.
"I guess it's just because I feel like a relationship should mean something, and I haven't found someone who means that to me yet."
She smiles,
"Alright then. It's getting kind of late, we should head back..."
I walk so I bump shoulders with her.
"Do you want to go back?"
She lets out a sigh, and kicks the sand.
"No. I just want to stay on the beach forever."
I close my eyes, and take a deep breath.
"I know what you mean. Everything seems perfect near the water doesn't it?"
She groans.
"Yes! I never want to leave!"
I laugh, and grab her hand.
"Come on, between the two of us we could stay here forever."
I pull her back towards town, and we don't reach the populated area of the district until it's almost dark.
When we reach her house I give her a hug.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you later!"
The walk home seems longer than usual, and lonely.
I finally reach my house, and I'm about to walk in, when I notice a piece of paper pinned to the door.
I pull it off, and unfold it.
Mr. Odair,
your services are needed in the capitol,
please board the morning train that will be leaving at 9:00 sharp.
You will be acquired to stay a week, and do whatever is requested of you.
All clothing and accommodations will be provided.
Thank you for your coöperation.
No. Tomorrow morning? That soon...
I can't believe this is happening. The only thing I can do, is go through with it, and keep Annie alive by doing so.
I don't want to think anymore, so I just walk upstairs, and crawl in bed. Pushing all thoughts from my mind.
In the morning, I wake up way to early.
I sigh heavily, and decide to tell Bruce goodbye before I leave.
I knock on his door, and in a couple of minutes, a shirtless, bedraggled Bruce answers the door.
"Finnick?"
I shuffle awkwardly.
"Um...Hey,"
He rubs his eyes sleepily.
"What can I do for you?"
I scratch my head nervously, my voice catching as I answer.
"I got a...summons from the capitol."
He seems to wake up more, sighing.
"When do they want you?"
I glance at my watch.
"My train leaves in a couple of hours."
He frowns,
"That soon?"
I nod wordlessly.
"Would you like some coffee?"
I nod again, and he lets me inside.
"I actually think alcohol would be more welcomed, concerning the circumstances."
Bruce chuckles,
"Yeah, no."
I laugh.
He's right. Alcohol would not be the best thing, I would probably get drunk...although, then I wouldn't have to face my 'appointment'.
I shake my head, no more drinking. Whatever I have to face, I'm going to face it sober.
"Here."
Bruce hands me a large mug of coffee,
"Thanks."
I breathe in the strong aroma, before taking a large drink.
"How are you holding up?"
I shrug.
"Have you ever...been with a girl before?"
I shake my head.
"Nope."
He raises his eyebrows in surprise.
"You've never had a girlfriend?"
I shake my head again.
"What am I going to do Bruce?"
He shakes his head.
"I don't know, you're just going to have to find some way to get through it. Does Mags know?"
"No, I haven't told her."
"Do you want me to tell her while you're gone?"
I nod slowly.
"I told Annie that I had a television interview, and I would probably be gone for a couple of days..."
"I'll tell her you'll be gone for a week."
"Thanks Bruce..."
We sit silent for a minute, then he rubs his forehead.
"Everything I did to keep you safe...everything I did to protect you from the capitol...He still managed to get to you."
I sigh.
"Well thank you anyway. You're the closest thing I have to family."
He laughs.
"I'm only thirty-four, barely old enough to be your father."
I grin.
"Well maybe more like a big brother."
He shakes his head chuckling.
"Alright. Do you need me to do anything for you?"
I take a deep breath.
"Wish me luck."
He nods, and we sit in silence until I have to go.
"Do you want me to walk you to the train station?"
I shake my head.
"I'll see you when you get back."
I nod, and walk slowly to the train station.
"Mr. Odair?"
A tall attendant asks. I nod, and he holds the door open for me.
"Enjoy your trip."
I walk trance like into the train, and stand by the large window as it pulls away from the station, watching district four vanish in the distance.
I wander around the train for a while. It feels so wierd being here alone, no Mags, no Bruce, I even miss Tiffy.
I sit on a couch, staring out the window until an attendant walks up.
"Mr. Odair?"
I look up slowly,
"Dinner is being served."
I nod, and walk into the dining car. It's very odd, sitting all alone at the table, eating the richest of food.
I'm told we won't arrive at the capitol until evening.
"You can do what you please until we arrive."
I decide to just sit on the couch, and stare out the window.
We arrive much to soon, and I'm told there's a car waiting for me.
It takes me to a gigantic hotel, and the lady at the front desk hands me a key.
"Enjoy your stay!"
She chirps.
I give her a small smile,
"Thanks."
I have the luxury suite on the top floor, and it fits its name.
Everything is either sparkling, or plush.
Satin curtains hang on the windows, cushy couches and chairs are placed around the sitting room, and my feet sink several inches into the rich velvet carpet.
There's a bar in one corner, and large double doors lead to the bedroom.
The bed has to be at least fifteen feet across, and ten feet long.
A door on the left side of the room, leads to a huge bathroom.
I don't have long to explore, an attendant knocks on my door.
"Message for you."
He says curtly. I thank him, and take the small white envelope.
Your first appointment will be with: Pippy Withale,
she is the head gamemakers daughter,
and today is her birthday, her father is surprising her with
an evening with Finnick Odair.
You will have dinner at the "Purple Cafe" in half an hour.
A car will come to pick you up, in a few minutes.
Make yourself presentable, and don't forget to turn on the charm.
Have a nice evening.
I decide to look around for something to wear.
I go back into the bedroom, and find a closet. Inside I find a wide array of suits, I pick a dark green one, that accents my eyes.
I decide to go with my classic look of having my shirt open at the top.
My fingers automatically trace the thin gold chain and small trident around my neck. My district token from Annie, I kept my promise to her, and I haven't taken it off since she gave it to me before my games.
I think of her as I tie my shoes, and straighten my jacket.
Taking a deep breath, I ride the elevator all the way down to the ground floor.
Outside, I can't miss the stretch limousine parked outside the hotel.
"Looks like this is my ride."
The driver holds the door open for me, and I slide in the backseat.
In a few moments we are on our way to Pippy Withale's house.
The inside of the limo is all red leather seats and dim lights.
There's a panel of buttons next to my seat, and I press a few experimentally. This results in the windows going up, then down, the lights turn different colors and flashing, and loud music to start playing.
"What are you doing back there?"
The driver asks, I didn't realize that the small window connecting the backseat to the front seat was open.
"Uh...I was just...never mind."
He shrugs, and rolls up the window.
I sit still for the rest of the ride, glancing nervously out the tinted windows.
I feel the car roll to a stop, and after a minute, my door opens.
"We're here."
I step out of the car, and run my fingers through my hair.
Taking a deep breath, I walk up to the large, odd house in front of me.
I'm not sure what to do, so I knock on the door.
A large man with snakes tattooed all over his arms answers the door.
I give a half smile.
"um...I'm here for Pippy?"
He claps his hands, then looks behind him quickly.
"Shhh! It's a surprise, she doesn't know yet! Go in the limo quick! I'm going to tell her that the limo is going to take her to her birthday dinner!"
He gives me a gentle push.
"Go! Go! Go!"
I turn around slowly, and walk back down to the limo. I jump in, and close the door shut behind me.
After a minute or two, I hear the door to the house open, and several voices. I shift so that I am lounging on the back seat, looking casual, and hopefully like the capitol Finnick. I'm a bit out of practice.
"What is it dada!"
"Just follow me pumpkin!"
"Oooh! I'm dying to know what the surprise is!"
"All right, look in the limo!"
The door opens, and I see the aqua hair and violet eyes of Pippy.
"Happy Birthday Pippy."
I purr, she lets out a squeal that I'm surprised doesn't break the windows.
"Oh! Dada! It's the best present ever!"
She hugs him, and jumps up and down.
"You arranged for me to meet Finnick Odair!"
He laughs.
"Not just meet him, you get a night with Finnick Odair."
She squeals again.
"Thank you sooooo much!"
I hear her kiss him on the cheek, then she's jumping into the seat next to me.
"Surprise."
I say in a low voice. Maybe I'm not so out of practice after all.
"Oh my gosh! I'm sitting in a limo with Finnick Odair!"
She waves her hands in the air, and shakes her head back and forth.
"Um...why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"
She turns to me, and giggles.
"Today is my seventeenth birthday! And I am you biggest fan! I dyed my hair the color of the tie you wore to the capitol on your victory tour, and I had my eyes changed to the color of the shirt you wore in my favorite picture of you in weekly gush! Do you like my dress? It's the exact color of your eyes, I had it specially made to look like the ocean."
She stops to take a breath, and I answer her before she can start babbling again.
"Well happy birthday! I absolutely adore your hair and eyes, and you dress is gorgeous, although not as pretty as the girl wearing it."
She giggles, and bats her eyelashes flirtatious at me.
We arrive at the restaurant in a few minutes, and apparently I made a reservation.
We have a private little table in the corner, and the entire meal Pippy is pushing around my feet with hers.
She gushes on and on about me, and the capitol, and me, and the newest fashion, and me. By the end of the meal, I'm sick of myself.
After the meal, we get back in the limo, and the driver seems to know where to go.
Pippy slides closer to me on the seat, leaning close she giggles.
"All the girls are going to be so jealous!"
I grin, pretending that wasn't the tenth time she's said that.
"So..."
She says slowly, running a hot pink painted fingernail up my arm.
"What should we do for the rest of the night?"
I give her what Tiffy would call my 'seductive smirk'
"What do you want to do?"
She smiles, and leans even closer.
"Playing hard to get? That won't work because I've got you the all night."
She slides forward and kisses me.
My first instinct is to pull away, but I know what I'm here for. I know I have to do it, or they'll kill Annie.
I wrap my arms around her waist, and slide her closer to me.
I can feel her hands slide up my chest, and I can feel her fingertips tracing my necklace.
The car stops, and we break apart.
"Looks like we're here."
I say with a grin.
I slide out of the limo, and help her out. I offer her my arm, and she slides hers in quickly, wrapping her hand around my bicep.
"You're so muscular!"
She squeals, and I inwardly sigh, dreading the long week ahead of me
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